|
|
|
|
Information
|
|
Once a volunteer, now a paid employee
|
Jim Corcoran is a 53 year old from Melbourne who joined the volunteering
sector after a friend who was volunteering as an Information Officer with
Volunteering Victoria in Melbourne mentioned that they might need someone else.
“My major motivation at that time was to combat the boredom of not working and,
frankly, I would have been happy to address envelopes for one day a week.”
The role turned out to be really interesting and involved helping prospective
volunteers find a suitable volunteering role. Fortunately for me, within three
months, a paid vacancy occurred for which I successfully applied”.
Jim suspected that he would have been unlikely to even make the interview list
if he hadn’t had the opportunity to volunteer and demonstrate his:
- skills, experience and knowledge from previous employment
- commitment and enthusiasm
- an ability to fit into the team environment
“One of the great things about volunteering is that older people (age 45 and
over) are seldom ‘culled out’ during the application process and are, in fact,
highly regarded.” said Jim. “Once they start volunteering they are often able to
successfully position themselves for paid employment if it becomes available.
Work ethics established in their previous working life, together with the depth
of their experience, stands them in good stead."
Jim and his colleagues at the Eastern Volunteer Recruitment Project (a project
funded by the Victorian Department of Human Services) are currently working with
the Home and Community Care (HACC) sector agencies in Melbourne’s eastern
metropolitan area, looking at ways to increase the number of older
income-support recipient volunteers in HACC services. A working group is being
formed consisting of representatives of Centrelink, a Community Work
Coordinator, a Job Network member and a Registered Training Organisation to help
identify and pilot the recommendations that emerge.
|
|
|